Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-05-13

Enid was not wholly satisfied with
the arrangements; but she accepted 1t
without serious objection.
1.-The girls can receive with me. and
that will be just the same. I'll tell
them to come first, and then the boys
can call, and we will receive them just
as Mother and Aunt Jane receive their
callers"
This is the way she arranged the
affair, and in due time invitations.
written on postal cards, were duly sent
out to five girls and seven boys. who
lived in the same block. Then Christ
mas came, and in the excitement of
this important occasion New Year :
Day was forgotten for awhile. 1t Is
wonderful how soon New Years Day
comes after Christmas; and almost be-
fore she knew it Enid found she must
prepare for the eventful day when she
would receive for the first time. She
had seen each of the five girls and
seven boys, and all had said they would
be pleased to come.
The day broke at last, though Enid
had been awake for an hour wondering
Is it ever would be daylight. No won
der it was so dark. 1t was raining hard,
Breakfast was very late, for Brigetta
Maria and Thomas Augustus and Cicely
were in no particular hurry. 1t did not
make any difference; for it was holi-
day, and Ends father was going to
spend the day in making calls, and her
mother in receiving calls. AS it rained,
Ends mother said Enid must receive
i'll the dining-room. Her guests could
come in at the area gate; besides it
would save the parlor carpets. Enid
did not object to this. The dining
room was in the basement, and from
the windows she could see the guests
arrive. At ten o'clc OK her father wen;
out and soon after all the servants ex-
cept Mercy Patience Jones went off, and
the carriage came for her mother.
Have Il pleasant time, dear. Treat
your callers like a little lady. There
are some games in the secretary. and
Mercy will bring in the cake and the
lemonade whenever you wish it. Good
bye. Stay in the dining-room all the
time and go to bed at nine o clock. ]
shall come home soon after ten.
1t was half-past ten when Enid sat
down in her best frock and the big arm
chair to receive. OF course, she could
hardly expect any one at once. They
would not come before eleven. as they
had all the afternoon and evening in
which to appear and pay respects
Eleven O'Clock came and no one had ar
rived. She changed her seat. ana sat
down by the window where she could
look out. There was nothing to be
seen save the wet stones of the walk
and the muddy streets. At one of the
opposite houses there was IA little bas-
ket tied with Il blue ribbon t. the bell
at will be great fun to see the gentle
men march up the steps and pptrheir
cards in the basket
Suddenly, to her great surprise the
clock on the mantel struck twelve Two
men and boy and one cab had passed
the door. Not soul had gone up the
opposite steps to put a card in the bas-
ket. Not Il soul had rung the bell a,
their own door. She hoped none of the
boys or girls would 90 up the steps
to the front door. She would
sit where she could see the steps
and watch for them. She tried to read
'Davy and the Goblin but the Cocko-
lorum got all mixed up with lobby
wocky, and she laid the book down with
a little sigh of disappointment. Why
don't they come? Why don't they
come? It's lucky the lemonade doesn
need warming.
Suddenly came tremendous sur
| prise. The clock struck one. 1t was
already afternoon. Her guests would
surely come very soon. Then she re-
membered it was time for lunch. She
arose from her seat by the windw, and
went ont to the kitchen. There she
found Mercy Patience reading book.
On the table stood the big pitcher OF
lemonade, and the plate of cake, cover
ed with a napkin.
Il think I'll have lunch, Mercy, il
you please
Yes, Miss. The lemonade is ali
ready
NO. mean plain lunch. Nobody
has called yet. They will come this
afternoon.
Mercy soon brought some cold meat
and bread and butter and a pitcher OF
milk. and Enid tried to eat it. but
could not. Her mind was on that silent
bell, and wondering why it j.. did not
ring. Then she began to fear the bell
was out of order, or that her guests
couldn't ring it, and she hastily drank
some milk and went back to the win
dow to watch. The clock licked and
licked, and the rain fell, drip, drip, in
monotonous murmur, on the wet stones
outside the window. Enid got ont a
game and tried to play solitaire game,
but soon gave it up. AT three O'Clock
Mercy brought in the cake and lemon
AIDE, and placed it on the table. p"
Your company are very late, Miss "
Yes, Mercy; they are very late. !
! do hope they will come soon"
Il am going up to my room for lit
tie rest.
"All right, Mercy. l will wait here,
They must come soon.
The room seemed to grow dark and
chilly, and tear ran down Enid 5
cheek.
Its very mean and cruel in them
when they know-Im-Tm waiting.
How cold it is. I'll light the fire"
The fire roared in a duh, angry sort
of way, and when Enid took down the
Il Il.